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Massive renos are all over Forest Hill South,
which exudes both traditional respectability
and a rabid desire to keep up
Real Estate Guide › Central
Forest Hill South
- Average 2008 sale price:
- $1,492,486
- Property crime:
- average
- Crime against people:
- very low
- Neighbourhood map:
- See map
Grounded at its southern end by those two bastions of affluence, Upper Canada College and Forest Hill Village, the area bounded by Avenue, Bathurst, St. Clair and Eglinton has some swagger. Completely developed by the 1930s, the area exudes both traditional respectability and a rabid desire to keep up. Front-lawn dumpsters are common, due to the prevalence of massive renovations. Homes are big, as in Brian Gluckstein’s six-bedroom, six-bath 1913 design showcase, and the seven-bedroom “Forest Hill Landmark” that sold for $3.85 million last year. They also come in every style, from French Colonial with terra cotta tiles to English country manors with Tudor boarding and sweeping lawns. Utilitarian brick is usually well hidden behind stucco or stone, and the houses come loaded with such luxurious details as sculpture gardens, porte cochères and imposing gated entrances.
HOUSING STOCK: Forest Hill was traditionally dominated by Tudors and Georgians—which is still the trend today—but French Provincials and the occasional ultra-modern design now dot the neighbourhood as well.
BARGAIN ZONES: Roughly $1.5 million will buy a 40-foot lot in lower Forest Hill Village, on the western side of Spadina, though homes in Chaplin Estates can be had for under $1 million. Of course, you’ll want to save money to tear down that house and replace it with a bigger, better stone Tudor.
THE VERDICT: Forest Hill’s proximity to downtown makes it a relatively safe investment area and, as evidenced by the number of extensive renovation projects on the go, demand for property remains strong. Forest Hill Village, with its mixed demographic, is embracing a more casual feel, rather than the pretentiousness it has been well-known for in years past.
NEIGHBOURHOOD HOT SPOTS:
Hope Street Café Arrive early on weekends for the impressive brunch spread, which includes eggs Benny with avocado and citrus hollandaise sauce. 324–326 Lonsdale Rd., 416-481-4834.
Type Books The second incarnation of the beloved Queen West original has all the same indie bookstore magic you’d expect. 394 Spadina Rd., 416-487-8973.
Village Chill This shop serves up frozen yogurt, and ice cream from Ontario’s Kawartha Dairy in such unusual and tasty flavours as mangosteen. 325B Lonsdale Rd., 416-481-2117.
Nearby Restaurants
Hope Street Café
This cozy neighbourhood grill is famous for baby back ribs with hickory barbecue sauce, but ... (0.46 km away)
Edo-ko
The Forest Hill Village version of the high-end Toronto sushi chain features a tranquil chocolate ... (0.46 km away)
Edo
Forest Hillers of all types—families, groups of work colleagues, schmoopy couples—frequent this 24-year-old neighbourhood mainstay. ... (0.46 km away)
Sotto in the Village
When they can’t score a table at the downtown location, devotees head to Sotto’s sister ... (0.47 km away)
Village Restaurant
The more Forest Hill Village changes, the more this family-run diner stays the same. With ... (0.49 km away)
Sushi Lovers
A few low stools indoors and plastic chairs on the patio provide minimal decor. Fancy ... (0.49 km away)
David’s By Day/Buzz By Night
Morning and noontime see the dining room packed and the sunny patio hopping with locals, ... (0.51 km away)
Nearby Shopping and Services
Art Interiors
Tucked in the heart of Forest Hill Village, this gallery is focused on original art ... (0.39 km away)
Kitsch Boutique
The three floors of this label lover’s dream hold an impressive selection of trendy pieces ... (0.41 km away)
Forest Hill Spa
There are swankier spots in town, but for exceptional facials that will leave your skin ... (0.45 km away)
Track Fitness
Back in the 1940s, this Forest Hill studio was probably someone’s apartment: the feeling is ... (0.50 km away)
Word of Mouth
Despite the small size of this foodie favourite, the selection is surprisingly broad, with a ... (0.57 km away)
Vila Ventura
A carnival of chic Brazilian, Spanish and little-known Canadian labels fills this Forest Hill boutique, ... (0.58 km away)
Commuting
- King and Bay:
- 5.5 km
- 401 and 400:
- 9.1 km
- Gardiner and 427:
- 14.2 km
- Subways:
- St. Clair West Station 1.2 km
- Davisville Station 1.2 km
- St. Clair Station 1.5 km
Commuting and subway distances measured from neighbourhood centre.














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